Holiday Bill of Rights

I received an email today that had the Holiday Bill of Rights for those who are grieving.  It was found in a grief newsletter that someone received.  It is perfect and I wanted to be sure that I always had it so I'm sharing it here. 


 

HOLIDAY BILL of RIGHTS 

1. You have the right to say TIME OUT, any time you need to. Time out to let

up, blow a little steam, step away from the holidays, have a "huddle" time

and start over.

2. You have a right to TELL IT LIKE IT IS when people ask, How are you? You

have a right to tell them how you REALLY feel, not just what they want to

hear. *You need to take care of yourself. Be attuned to your feelings (*P.S.

You also have the right to smile and say you're fine, because telling them how

you really feel, isn't worth your time - some people will never understand

anyway)

3. You have the right to SOME "BAH HUMBUG" DAYS. You don't have to be "Jolly

Old St. Nicholas" all the time. You are not a bad person just because you

don't feel like singing Christmas carols all day.

4. You have the right to DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY. There is no law that says

you must always do Chanukah and Christmas the same way. You can send 10

cards instead of 100 -- or no cards at all. You can open presents at

somebody else's house. You can do without a tree. You can have a pizza

instead of turkey!-the list is endless.

5. You have the right to BE WHERE YOU WANT TO BE. Be at home, or at the

relatives or with friends. Be in any city, any state you choose! NOBODY SAID

YOU HAVE TO HAVE SNOW TO HAVE CHRISTMAS. There's no law that says you must

stay home!

6. You have the right to have SOME FUN. Don't be afraid of what someone will

say if they see you laughing and having a good time. Laughter is every bit

as therapeutic as tears. If you are doing something that your loved one

would have also enjoyed, think of their laughter and feel their laughter

inside of you.

7. You have the right to CHANGE DIRECTION IN MID-STREAM. Grief is

unpredictable. You may be all ready to go somewhere or do something and be

suddenly overwhelmed, immobilized. When that happens it's okay to change

your mind.

8. You have the right to DO THINGS AT DIFFERENT TIMES. Go to church or

synagogue at a different time. Open presents at a different time. Serve your

meal at a different time. Give up and go to bed at a different time. Don't

be a slave to the holiday clock.

9. You have the right to REST, PEACE, and SOLITUDE. You don't need to be

busy all the time. Take a nap whenever you need one. Take time to pray and

meditate or recharge your spirit, it can do you much more good than eating

another huge meal.

10. You have the right TO DO IT ALL DIFFERENT AGAIN NEXT YEAR.  Just because you change things one year or try something different, does not mean you have written it in stone. Next year, you can always change it back or do it, in yet, another new way.